Doctors of the visiting US Navy ship Mercy have commenced the first round of medical screening of patients in Honiara after the vessel arrived last Saturday.

The ship is here at the request of the Solomon Islands Government to support local health counterparts provide crucial public health services during the current Pacific Games, which officially opened last night.

While it anchored off Point Cruz, its personnel came ashore yesterday and begun the first rounds of optometry, NCD and Dental screening at the St. Barnabas Cathedral.

Screening of patient referral cases at National Referral Hospital, Gizo Hospital and Kiluúfi Hospital are being done today, and will continue over the coming days, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

“Cases screened and require further treatment will then be treated onboard the USNS Mercy,” the statement said.

Mercy have deployed teams to Kilu’ufi hospital in Malaita and Gizo hospital in Western province to support local medical teams deliver much needed medical services to referral cases.

Now in its 19th iteration, the US Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific by the United States.

Pacific Partnership collaborates with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships.

The Pacific Partnership 24-1 is USNS Mercy hospital’s second visit to Solomon Islands, the first being in August last year, and it is one of the largest vessels that has ever visited the country to provide medical services among other goodwill activities.

Welcoming the visit, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil thanked the government of the United States for the vessel’s timely visit.

She said the visit coincides with the much anticipated Pacific Games.

“We are very grateful and appreciative of the important services that will be provided for athletes at the games and people in Honiara,” McNeil said.